How are the Ramayana and Mahabharata connected to places in Uttar Pradesh?

The two great Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, are deeply connected to the geography and cultural history of Uttar Pradesh, as they describe the region of the Gangetic Plain.1

• The Ramayana: This epic is set in and around Ayodhya, which is revered as the birthplace of Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu. The city is historically associated with the rule of Rama’s father, Dasharatha. Additionally, the city of Varanasi hosts the annual Bharat Milap festival, which commemorates the reunion of Rama with his brother Bharat following his 14-year exile.123
• The Mahabharata: The setting for this epic is the area surrounding Hastinapur, located in the western part of modern-day Uttar Pradesh.1

Furthermore, the state is home to Mathura and nearby Vrindavan, which are central to the mythology of Krishna—another incarnation of Vishnu—and his youthful adventures.14